Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong has described Lionel Messi as a player of “different quality” while tactfully steering clear of the ongoing Messi vs. Ronaldo debate.
Troost-Ekong, who faced Messi during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, reflected on the Argentine’s mesmerizing performance in a pivotal group-stage clash.
The match ended 2-1 in Argentina’s favor, with Messi’s stunning opening goal helping secure their progression to the knockout stages and eliminating Nigeria.
Recalling the iconic moment, Troost-Ekong said,
“When he scored the opening goal against us it was like slow motion, you can’t really do anything you just have to watch him.
I was close to cheering him because he was fantastic. He is a different quality. You can see that he’s reading the game, but when he comes alive there is not much you can do.”
Despite his admiration for Messi, Troost-Ekong carefully sidestepped the age-old debate about who the better player is between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking during an interview with talkSPORT, the Nigerian defender explained his reluctance to choose.
“This is difficult to say. I know I will probably play against Ronaldo later this season. I don’t want to get him mad,” Ekong joked, referencing a potential encounter with Ronaldo in the Saudi Pro League.
The Super Eagles star also reflected on his experiences defending against Ronaldo, whom he faced during his time in Serie A with Udinese and later in the Premier League during Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester United.
“I had the pleasure of playing against him in Italy. When he was playing for Juventus and I was playing for Udinese, he was an out-to-out number nine at that point.
Of course, I grew up watching him as a winger. In Italy, he was very sharp, a great finisher, you just really can’t take your eye off him if you’re a defender,” Ekong said.
With both Messi and Ronaldo leaving a lasting impression on him, Troost-Ekong praised their unique qualities while keeping his personal preference out of the conversation.
His experiences highlight the privilege and the challenges of defending against two of football’s greatest players.
